Rene came Sunday afternoon, I was just having 40 winks, she had been to Chapel in the morning and dinner was late. Mr A. came later and stayed tea. Ron’s letter to Rene was quite lively, he says he has settled down alright now. We are so pleased, in his last one we thought he was feeling rather lost. He ended up with love to Mrs Puff-puff and your affectionate brother, the affect underlined, so was feeling quite perky. I am looking forward to his next one home, but he may not have so much time to write now he has started his course of training. He says they had a good Xmas dinner, Turkey, Saus. mashed and baked Pot. Plum Pudding and Cus. and minerals. He gave his bot. of beer to his pals. Afterwards he said they went a long walk to settle it down. He did not get his telegram until dinner-time Bx Day tho’ it was sent on Xmas Eve in the morning. The letter posted in the afternoon reached him at tea-time. However he was very pleased with it as he was not expecting it.
After several nice days Monday was wet and Tues not too good with occasional showers. On Wed, New Year’s day it was bright and very cold, with E. Wind and a black frost. About 3 o’clock it came a snow-shower and we have been having them ever since, there is one rattling at the window now. There is not much snow on the ground yet as the wind seems to chafe it away. It smokes a bit in the kitchen but is alright in the room. Very cold when the squalls come. Father is on watch until 2 a.m. Jean is asleep, she has been working at a jig-saw Mr A has lent her and reading her new SS [Sunday School] prize “David Copperfield”. Hugh Green has gone to sea, he won’t be able to run away for some time now. Wonder if it is as stormy where he is as it is here. Father took Est[her] Parish in his car to Chapel to be married on New Year’s day. Says he will promise no more, only Rene and Elsie Grantham. Elsie says he only promises them because he thinks he won’t be needed. They are both 27 so not quite on the shelf yet. Rene has bought a nice wool material dress from E[dith] Crow a misfit she says E. doesn’t know quite whether to be pleased because it is big enough or a bit annoyed to think Rene is slimmer than she, but she is nearly 20 years older than Rene. Rene walked home to-day it was easier than cycling, she may not come to-morrow if the weather is not better.

‘Mrs Puff-puff’ was a reference to May’s asthma.Hugh Green was the son of retired (Army) Captain Hubert Henry Green whose home, ‘The Beacon’, was set high on the sandhills, on Sea Bank Road, not far from ‘The Point’.Esther Parish was the daughter of Albert ‘Bert’ Parish, a small-holder and coastguard who lived at ‘Rose Cottage’ near ‘The Point’.Edith Crow and her sister, Alice, spinsters lived at ‘The Sycamores’, previously their father’s farm, in South Road near ‘Sunny Side’ where May and family had lived for several years up to 1939.

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Alice and Edith Crow were the proud owners of Grandfather Clocks. They had several in their sitting room, they were always immaculately dressed and the house used to smell of furniture polish. When the clocks chimed it fascinated me. What memories your Grandma has stirred. It was only on New Year’s Day I drove past the site of the Crows which is now a new development, as will be my old house with Sunnyside adjoining it as it is now boarded up and ready for development. Progress??

Paddy Coote, Nottingham

Yes, I also have many memories of the Misses Crow and their pristine home – including the huge picture of highland cattle in their sitting room. Their garden shelter was a half boat with the bow pointing skywards. There were always cows in the field between their house and yours – and the cows would dance wildly when the Boys’ Brigade bands marched past from their campsite – especially the visiting Scottish contingent with pipes and drums. Happy days!

Tom, I can picture the Boys Brigade marching past our house, we all came out to watch them. A well-known village character was walking along South Rd with her skirt tucked up in the waistband of her knickers and they couldn’t play their instruments for laughter. Mum shouted to her and she just carried on, the parade just marched on with the drums playing.